Studies on Cellulose Fermentation

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Abstract
Cellulose-decomposing bacteria were isolated from the rumen of cattle. Two morphological types, rods and cocci, were found. Counts as high as 1 billion per ml. were obtained but the usual number of organisms demonstrated by cultural methods was 50 million per ml. Non-cellulose decomposers were demonstrated in relatively larger numbers. The cellulose bacteria are extremely active in cellulose digestion. The coccus forms iodophilic reserves within the cell but this is not true of the rod. The coccus forms an extracellular cellulase but no evidence of such an enzyme was observed with the rod. The isolated bacteria are believed to be similar to the bacteria chiefly responsible for the digestion of cellulose in the ruminant.